Kerr comes up big on both sides of ball

Larry StinePublished: November 4, 2006 12:00AM

By LARRY STINE
T-G Correspondent
Logan Kerr was one of a countless number of Ashland High School football players who rose to the occasion Friday night in the Arrow's 47-34 state playoff victory over Sylvania Southview.
Kerr, a 5-foot-9 junior jumping jack in his own right, helped spearhead Ashland's defense against Southview, picking off two passes and returning the pair for 82 yards.
He also was one of Ashland quarterback Taylor Housewright's favorite targets on the night at wide receiver, pulling in four passes for 57 yards, one good for a 16-yard touchdown reception.
But Kerr, like his Arrow teammates, doesn't feel superior to anyone. He knows its a team effort each Friday night, and has been all 11 weeks this season, one that's paid off with 11 straight wins.
"I thought we came out and worked hard all week in practice to get ready for what they were going to do and we just all went put and gave a great team effort," Kerr noted. "I couldn't do it without my team, so, I just appreciate everyone's efforts too."
The Arrows had to deal with three defensive starters being hurt in Ian Conery, Curt Gillespie and Shadron Starnes. Kerr was one of the players to raise his level of play, as did teammates like Cody Fast, Luke Rogers, Chris Snow, Dan Hartnett, Matt Lewis, Taylor Page, Tyler McFarlin, Brandon Harris and Mike Lamb.
"That's part of our team though," Kerr said. "If one goes down, we have another person to step up. That's what great teams are made out of and that's why we're a great team so far."
Ashland coach Scott Valentine had nothing but praise for his Arrows and pointed out how the stepped-up play of so many players, like Kerr and Co. keeps the Ashland machine churning.
"It's tough when you have so many weapons for guys to be patient enough for their night to come but they just have to be ready to have a great night," Valentine said. "(Logan did a great job tonight. We delivered the ball to him and he made the interceptions.
"We talk to our guys about we haven't come through the season without guys having to play at a high level, even in practice because we tell them, you're practicing against All-Conference players and you're going to get better if you're willing to work and challenge each other," Valentine added. "Dan Hartnett filling in for Curt Gillespie and Mike Lamb filling in for Shadron a lot and Ian Conery ended up coming back in with his broken arm when Andrew Britton went down.
"To move on, you've got to be able to do that this late in the year because everybody's going to be bumped up a little bit."
Ashland defensive coordinator Dan Fuller has had to rely on his vast cast of Arrow players to keep their intensity level of play up, especially on the defensive side of the ball because of injuries, bumps and bruises.
"Missing as many kids as we had this week, I thought our kids stepped up and played well," Fuller relayed. "I'm not real happy with our tackling at the end of the game but we get to play next week and that's the most important thing."
Fuller felt Kerr played one his best games of the year, but so did many other players.
"Logan's interceptions, he was really getting up there and was really focused before the game, I could tell," Fuller lauded. "That's what you need when you're down a little bit, you're other kids have to step up and make good plays.
"The kids know they are a play away and they all bought into that," he added. "When the whistle calls, they've done a nice job so far. It's very special to get the first playoff win for Ashland, especially with this group of kids who have worked so hard to accomplish their goals.
"They've stayed focused all year long, played through adversity and we just got to try and heal up this week and take on a good Tiffin Columbian team. Stay hungry and not satisfied."
Kerr says as well as the team has played, the Arrows have had tremendous help from the coaching staff.
"The coaches do a great job every week with the scouting report," he noted. "We're on the same level with our coaches and I don't know if any other teams are like that. I think that has a lot to do with us being a great team."
Kerr, like his Arrow teammates, doesn't feel superior to anyone, despite earning the first playoff win in Ashland history.
He knows its a team effort each Friday night, and has been all 11 weeks this season, one that's paid off with 11 straight wins and counting.